The Minot Public School Board plans to ask voters to approve a $125 million bond referendum to pay for new schools. How do you plan to vote?

Comments

locomotive

Williston, I agree with much of what you posted. The phrase "FOR THE CHILDREN" gets those ol' heart strings a-strumming, that's for sure. But the phrase "Enough is enough" has its place even in this day of unlimited entitlement. Personally, I think it SINGS.

Its by the City of Grand Forks, but shows tax rates for the entire state and lets you input your home value to compare. Its from 2012, but still shows that Minot isn't quite the outrageous place some make it out to be.

Williston

Ask yourself, why such a rounded figure? Do we all have to research this at the business office at the school in an effort to get full disclosure prior to a vote? When they say "FOR THE CHILDREN" it is meant to say we are almost on low level if we dare say no or question the asking/taking. I don't feel it is my duty to give up anything more for the children. I did that constantly while raising my own. Others should not feel entitled to my income for their child on a constant basis. I understand the welfare programs that tax me "FOR THE CHILDREN" and laws that govern my behavior - smoking, drinking and even open breast feeding "FOR THE CHILDREN". Enough. There comes a time when it is your own child. Your choice to place this bundle of joy in sports, private school, day care or what ever. I think way to many feel entitled these days.

InterestedParty

Is everyone aware that ND currently has a school trust fund that is funded by rents and royalties on state lands. It is expected to top 4 BILLION in just a couple years but the state hoards the money. Therein lies our answer. We already have the funds for new schools.

Williston

They have demonstrated without the flood issue that they can not maintain a building. If they get the money what are the actual plans? Where exactly is the money being spent? What will the upkeep in the future hold? Is this for sporting events or actual education? How did they come to this amount?

concerned

Because this only part of the problem with the schools..some people will be paying almost $1,000 more in property taxes as the housing valuations have gone up on top of this proposed vote for a bond. Now how fair is that? I think some parts of Minot that were hit harder with valuations shouldn't have to give as much or give a break...You can't tell me houses have doubled/almost tripled in 6 years......

Williston

Williston

Locomotive, Sales Tax is not an option. Williston was the last of the districts allowed to do this. It is not allowed anymore. This is why they are going after the property again. Even though it sounds like a good idea, once a tax is there, it is hard for our cities to say goodbye. Williston was so afraid to let go that the Park went after it. They got it after demonstrating the reduction in property tax. Williston never saw the reduction. What one entity gave the other absorbed.

LuvDogs

DIO you completely missed the point. Parents without property are part of the community too! Why are they not paying for their children;s school???? My point is there has to be a way to support our school system without putting it all on property owners. Please tell me where I said I am not willing to pay my portion??

Williston

This tax will fall only on a portion of the people. The Commission must stop the creation of TIF districts, new building exemption, tons of so called charities (way to many gambling for a cause) Trinity has a ton of property that is exempt, renaissance zones that get expanded(can we say real estate agents on our commission)and now added up - approx. 60% of the property not paying property tax in the community. They all can't be a church! I say NO!

realwildchyld

locomotive I did not know that at all, thanks for adding some much needed info on the subject. It just seems there has to be a better way to raise the funds.It seems as though if you own property you are getting taxed more than a family that lives in an apartment but yet your kids may go to the same school and you are the one footing the bill.

TheDiogenist

And anyway, $450 a year breaks down to less than $40 a month, or - as Peep pointed out earlier - two less trips to Burger King or the local pub for people with big houses. (i.e. not a hardship) And what's more, home values have all soared in the area since 2000, with the average nearly doubling. This property tax hike is probably keeping apace.

TheDiogenist

Because you're part of a community, dog lover. Because, as a property owner, you have a stake in its future, whether you in particular have children or not. I'm sure all of our taxes go towards a great number of things that we might ourselves never use - that's not the point of them.

LuvDogs

Peep I too live within my means. However, I do not have kids and do not use the school system. Why should I be paying a hike in my taxes for facilities I do not or will not use?? While parents who do not own property benefit and are not helping support the school system they are using??

Peeweepeterson

Leftwing- Yes $450 is a little tax hike. Why? Because I live within my means. I didn't go buy a brand new house and max out my line of credit just to "keep up with the jones". It shouldn't be the cities fault that people are not financially responsible. If you can't live with your payments or are on the edge then you shouldn't have gotten yourself into the property you own.

LuvDogs

Why did the City Fund just approve 4.4 million dollars to Bishop Ryan Catholic Schools, the Minot Family YMCA, the Minot Curling Club, the Minot Commission on Aging, the Minot Park District and Minot State University when the monies could have been used for our PUBLIC school system.

As a property owner without children in the school system I agree the burden should not only be on the property owners in the community.

muleskinner

Nevada has zero school lands trust fund land left. Wisconsin the same. All sold off to finance government.

North Dakota has 698 thousand plus a few hundred more most in western North Dakota. It has more than 2 billion dollars in the fund. If its in a bank account drawing 1 percent interest, the amount is 20 million dollars at your garden variety bank on Main Street, not even at Wall Street banks.

Any banker in North Dakota would happily take the money and deposit that money in their bank right now.

Keep that money local, don't let Wall Street just take it and run.

Didn't the North Dakota Teachers Retirement Fund take a hit when Wall Street tanked back in 2008?

Why should North Dakota's School Land Trust Board continue to place trust in Wall Street when it can get fleeced in a heartbeat?

Take that money and spend it here, North Dakotans will be happier and even richer.

It's a no brainer, but I doubt if the School Lands Trust Board can figure it out.

realwildchyld

I don't have a dog in this fight since I have long ago left Minot for the bright lights of the big city on Northdakota's left coast!!

But I still have friends and family living there so I make the cross country drive as often as I can, while on these visits politics and eventualy taxes get brought up and I always hear how much everybody is paying for property taxes already.......so the question is where are these hard working families going to get the extra money for even more taxes???? There has to be a more even way of collecting the money, maybe an additional sales tax that would draw from all segments of the city not just property owners.